When Surrender Was Not an Option

A short, quick read of Crawford's account of the march from Stalag Luft 3, Sagan, Silesia, to the railroad head at Spremburg from Jan. 27, 1945. Crawford's route, though, was unusual in that due to herniating himself throwing up on the railroad journey from Spremburg, from "bashing" unexpected meat rations, he wound up in a hospital in the Hammelburg POW allied officer camp. His life was saved there. He was fortunate, just missing Patton's attempt to rescue Col. John Waters (Pattons' son-inlaw)from Hammelburg. Unusual recollections, compared to other Stalag Luft 3 diaries, are those of POWs who would die within 48 hours at Stalag Luft 3, giving up and freezing by the side of the road, being conscientously guarded from hostile Germans by German Luftwaffe guards, who returned him back to the POW camp at Stalag 13D Nuremburg, the hell hole, and an account of POWs who almost made it, but died from eating fried Red Cross donuts upon liberation..While many died on the march, numbers are rarely mentioned in POW diaries. One website, related to the Joe Klass book, "Maybe I'm Dead", notes over 2000 of 10000 died. Our father survived 21 B-24 missions, Stalag Luft 3, the march, Stalag 13D, Nuremburg, and Stalg 7A, Moosburg, before being liberated by Patton's 14th Armored on April 29, 1945.

A thrilling story of one mans survival behind enemy lines after bailing out.A cover to cover read.Highly recommended.

It would be hard to describe this story without using words like 'gritty,' 'horrifying,' and 'engrossing.' George Crawford of the 456th Bomb group (Heavy), along with James Lee, tells his first-person story of flying the giant American bombers over enemy targets, surviving being shot down, and more importantly, surviving being a prisoner of war in the most dismal conditions one can imagine. Told in a no-nonsense, straight-forward approach to the facts, you will find yourself turning the pages rapidly, not able to put this fascinating account of one man's challenges in wartime down until every word soaks in. Should be required reading for every high school student in the US, along with the classics of the genre like "Those Who Fall" by John Muirhead.Roy J. Firestone ...

With each passing year, the heroes and reality of WWII fade. When Surrender Was Not An Option presents one man's experiences as a POW in Nazi Germany: the brutality, the bravery, the heroism of surviving. Everyone, young and old, should read Second Lieutenant George Crawford's story. If you've ever served in the military, you'll identify with this honest tale. If you haven't, you'll appreciate and be astounded by the sacrifices Crawford and all soldiers make in the name of freedom and survival. Helen Ginger, Editor, Doing It Write!